X-ray apparatus



April 1939- R. A. FISCHER 2,153,795

X-RAY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' April 11,1939.

R. A. FISCHER X-RAY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllii IHIIII' llllll u: l

, jrweizgor .ZfabGri A .Z 160k er Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED ST TE iii PTENT ()FFiCE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in X- ray equipment and has for an object the provision of a transformer and X-ray tube assembly wherein such parts are immersed in a body of oil, the tube is cooled by circulation of oil relative thereto or in at least a portion thereof and a novel oil pressure relief means prevents the creation of dangerous pressures in the enclosure for said parts and said oil and thereby increases the cooling action of the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an X-ray tube of the character described, whereinthe anode of the tube is substantially hollow and oil is circulated therein for cooling the tube by a simple and efficient means, including a nozzle and motor operated pump.

A further object is to provide a tube and transformer unit which includes a mounting that readily lends itself to the setting up of the unit in standards or supports of various kinds, to facilitate the application of the X-rays discharging from said unit.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide X-ray equipment of the character described. wherein the housing which encloses the transformer and X-ray tube in a body of oil is equipped with a collapsible member closed to the entrance of oil therein and open to the atmosphere, whereby when the oil is expanded by the heat from the X-ray tube and transformer, said member will collapse and increase the volumetric capacity of the housing to relieve the pressure of the heated oil therein, said member being automatically restored to normal condition when the oil cools.

I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred form of X-ray apparatus embodying my invention, subject, however, to modification, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of X- ray equipment constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the equipment looking in the direction of the arrow 2, as shown in Fig. l, to illustrate the control or switch box,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the X-ray tube, showing means for cooling the anode thereof,

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the plane of line 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of line 11 of Fig. 5,

One embodiment of this. invention, as shown. in 5 detail in the accompanying drawings, comprises a sectional housing of substantially rectangular form made up of sections 8 and 9 secured together by fastenings 0 to form a hermetically sealed enclosure for a transformer II and X-ray tube 10 12. The section 9 of the housing is provided with an X-ray discharge window I2, as is customary in the art. The housing is provided with trunnions l3, rotatable in a U-shaped bracket 54. Depending from the ends of the bracket M are pairs of sockets l5 for standards or legs l6, whereby to support said unit. This bracket is also adapted to be suspended or otherwise mounted in overhead or other types of standards, to facilitate the adjustment thereof and application of X-rays. Between its ends the bracket l4 supports a switch or control box IT in position to be conveniently reached.

In accordance with this invention, the housing 8 is completely filled with oil or some other suitable liquid, and provision is made for circulating this oil into or with relation to at least a part of the X-ray tube. As here shown, the tube is mounted between supports l8 and I9 and the anode 20 of the tube is substantially hollow, that .is, is formed with a bore or opening 2| closed adjacent the inner end of the anode and open at the outer end of the anode, which latter extends beyond the tube and through an opening in the support Hi. This allows oil to enter the bore or opening 2|, whereby to cool the anode. As here shown, an electric motor 22 operates a pump 23 within the housing, whereby oil is forced through the tube 24 and a nozzle 25 into said bore or opening 2| of the anode. The nozzle 25 is of considerably less diameter than the opening or bore, so that oil discharged by the nozzle into said bore will readily flow outward into the body of said bore and in this way, circulation of cooling oil is provided for during 5 the operation of the X-ray tube.

While not shown, it is obvious that the motor may be electrically connected through the control box ll, so as to be automatically operated incident to supplying electrical energy to the X-ray 5 tube.

It will be noted that the nozzle 25 has its discharge end close to the closed end opening 2| and preferably notched as at 26, on the sides thereof, so as to permit of a free discharge and circulatory movement of the oil and to direct the oil closer to the target at the inner end of the anode. With this arrangement it is seen that there will be provided a continuous stream of oil circulating through at least a part of the tube, whereby to maintain the same in a better operating condition and increase the efiiciency of the equipment.

Means is provided for increasing the cooling action of the oil and preventing creation of dangerous oil pressures in the housing and, as here shown, comprises a collapsible member which may be in the form of an elongated resilient rubber bag 21, fixed at one end as at 28, to one end wall of the housing and extending alongside the tube 12. The other end of this bag is provided with an outlet fitting consisting of an inner section 29 and an outer section 30 for the purpose of communicating the interior of the bag with the atmosphere through the opposite end wall of said housing. The inner section 29 is telescoped by the neck of the bag and held thereon by means of a ferrule 3|. An annular flange 32 on this section engages the outer end of said neck and holds the gasket 33 against said end wall. The outer end of the section 29 is externally screw threaded and extends through an opening in said wall. The outer section 30 is in the form of a nut and is screwed on to said threaded end of the inner section so that a passage or opening 34 therein will register with a similar passage 35 in the inner section to communicate the interior of the member 21 with the atmosphere. A suitable gasket 36 is interposed between the housing and outer section 30 to form a tight seal. As here shown, the member or bag 21 is cylindrical in cross section but it is obvious that the same may be oval or otherwise shaped as desired, inasmuch as the main requirement is that this bag normally displaces such an amount of oil that when the oil becomes heated and expands, the bag will collapse and provide increased volumetric capacity in the housing for the expanded oil. This will relieve excessive pressure and avoid shutdowns as is often necessary in X-ray equipment, to permit of the cooling of the oil and the elimination of dangerous pressures in the housing.

It will be noted that as the pressure of the oil diminishes, the bag or member will proportionately move towards its normal position and when the oil pressure becomes nil, the bag will be fully extended to its normal shape.

I claim:

1. X-ray apparatus comprising a housing adapted to be filled with oil and having an X-ray discharge window, X-ray generating means in said housing and oil pressure relief means in said housing operating when the oil is expelled by the heat from. said X-ray generating means, said relief means including a collapsible resilient tubular member closed to the entrance of oil therein and open to the atmosphere and being disposed between certain opposed walls of the housing and arranged so that opposite sides of the circumferential walls thereof will move towards one another when the member collapses.

2. X-ray apparatus comprising a housing having X-ray discharge window and adapted to be filled with oil, X-ray generating means in said housing including an X-ray tube having an anode provided with an opening which is open to the entrance of oil and means confined in entirety within said housing for circulating oil in said opening and in said housing, including a motor, a pump operated thereby and a nozzle through which oil from said pump is discharged into said opening.

3. X-ray apparatus comprising a housing adapted to be filled with oil and having an X-ray discharge window, X-ray generating means within said housing and oil pressure relief means within said housing and including an elongated collapsible, resilient member closed to the entrance of oil arranged to collapse in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, and means communicating said member with the atmosphere through a wall of said housing.

4- X-ray apparatus comprising a housing having X-ray discharge window and adapted to be filled with oil, X-ray generating means in said housing including an X-ray tube having an anode provided with an opening which is open to the entrance of oil, means for circulating oil in said opening, and oil pressure relief means in said housing, including an elongated collapsible and tubular resilient opposed walls of the housing and being closed to the entrance of oil and means for communicating the interior of said member with the atmosphere, said tubular resilient member being collapsible transversely thereof, without disturbing the connection thereof with said walls.

ROBERT A FISCHER.

member secured at its ends to 

